This weekend saw the Dacotah Speedway open its doors for the first this year. While the night went off with no hitches, there is a lot of behind the scenes action that made all of this possible. The common race fan and sometimes race driver don't comprehend what goes into making a night and a season successful. So let's draw back the curtains and shine a little light on those behind the scenes who make everything possible.
First, there are the board meetings and general membership meetings that take place in the off season. While this is common knowledge not everyone realizes that the decisions and actions that come from these meetings play a vital part to just even opening the doors to the track. From the meetings a lot of smaller tasks and projects get completed. Examples of this can be finding sponsors, finding track personnel, making sure that the bills are being paid, and so forth. Each person plays a vital role that makes the show go on.
Second, there is the track clean up day. Every year this gets promoted and every year it's usually the same faces that you see year in and year out. During this day a lot of things get inspected the tractors, the tow trucks, the track lights, the sound system, ice machines, and so many other things that seem we just take for granted. I myself designated my services this year to help my local track and i must admit that I have taken for granted simple aspects like getting the track vehicles up and going. The individuals at the track clean up usually don't get much of an acknowledgement but they play such a vital part to getting the track open. Without these people opening night would not be feasible.
Third is the volunteer staff. The track from Test N Tune to opening night at Dacotah Speedway saw two very different tracks. The drivers can thank the individual who put hours in on the tractor packing the tradk during the middle of the week. This is individual does a thankless job along with the head track prep crewman. For us it's Harold. Harold puts his heart and soul into the track and it shows. Dacotah Speedway has one of the most consistent race tracks in the midwest and often provides excellent racing action. This was proven this past Friday night as four out of five features had excellent racing action. Now, I am biased as Dacotah Speedway is now my home track and I am fortunate enough to help the track. However, people like Harold and his crew are the real heroes of the night as they control and maintain the surface of the track.
Finally, there is the rest of the staff, from the concession stand managers, track crew, pit shack sign in crew, and the ticket sellers, and everyone that I cannot think of now. Everyone plays their own vital role to make the track run smoothly and successfully. These people need to be acknowledged as well for their efforts and the sacrafices that they make in order for the track to be successful, for the fans to be entertained, anf for the drivers to have a suitable track to race on safely.
So as you head to the track whether it be for the opening night, a special, or just a normal race night, just remember that none of this would be possible without the people behind the scenes putting in hours of work to make it possible.